Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Saturday he hopes the Taliban will release some of its own prisoners as well. Khan said some of those being released by the government were on a Taliban list.

Khan said next round of talks will be held next week and the number of released prisoner may rise to 30. The government released 19 prisoners last month. Khan said he met Saturday with Taliban officials.

The government is holding talks with the local Taliban to bring an end to the ongoing insurgency in the country that's killed thousands of people in recent years. Splinter groups have continued their attacks despite the talks.